After hearing explosions in a Toronto building, a three alarm fire eventually broke out and destroyed a commercial building on Queen street on October 30. The building contains a few apartment units and Roots store.Individuals in the Greater Toronto area should look into document storage in the area, as facilities are available to house sensitive documents and keep them safe from incidents like this one.Toronto fire Captain David Eckerman told the Toronto Star that although the fire might have been fueled by the high winds Superstorm Sandy sweeping through North America, it was ruled out as the primary cause to the fire.“There might be some electrical problem that was made worse by the weather but you can’t blame it just on the weather regardless,” Eckerman told the news source.The fire did not lead to any injuries.As the world grows digital, many are turning to online storage for their documents. However, it's always a good idea to have physical backups. Jiffy…

Annette McLeod, who started her own writing company, is telling Canadians that entrepreneurs should not be afraid to ask for advice. A mentor, like her friend Rosalyn Cronin, an experienced accountant and small business author can help shape the future of a business, helping an owner start, grow and avoid mistakes down the road.Any business owners looking to supplement the expensive price of rent for an office should look into Toronto storage prices and compare them with what they are currently paying for space."I don’t know what I’d do without her," said McLeod about Cronin. "I like being able to decide what is a viable idea and running with it, and prioritizing where resources go. And if my three-year-old son…

Hurricane Sandy, the storm causing problems on the East Coast, has already begun affecting the Greater Toronto Area. Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says the major impact will be high winds hitting the area.Residents throughout the GTA should consider self storage for valuables that need extra security, for this storm or just to prepare for storm's in the future."(We are) still recommending folks get those loose objects and Halloween decorations pulled inside today, so they don’t get blown around and become projectiles when the winds pick up this evening,” Geoff Coulson, who is also a warning preparedness expert with Environment Canada, told the Toronoto Star.Coulson added that power outages are also a possibility and residents need…

The firm that handles property assessments in Toronto recently reported that home values increased by an average of 22.8 percent since 2008. These values are what is used to calculate property taxes in 2013.For Toronto-area homeowners looking to free up some space in their homes, Toronto storage is available offering optimal pricing.Joe Regina, of the Municipal Property Assessment told the Toronto Star that 600,000 Toronto homeowners will be notified in waves on the tax increase, but he advised them not to worry as they might not be affected.“If the change in your assessment is equal to or less than the average change for the city of Toronto, then you’re not likely to see an increase in your taxes," Regina told…

The Fall 2012 Canada, U.S. Commercial Real Estate Investment Review released by Avison Young showed that record low interest rates have Canada real estate volumes on the verge of exceeding pre-credit crisis investment levels.While renting or buying office space might be appealing to some business owners, self storage units in Toronto are even cheaper and are adequate for running many business operations.“Everyone wants to own a piece of commercial real estate in the largest and one of the healthiest markets in the country,” said Robin White, Avison Young, principal and executive vice president, Capital Markets Group, in Toronto. “Investors have been served an entrée of product, ranging from trophy office buildings to redevelopment plays and while some investors are buying…

October is Small Business Month in Ontario, a time of year set aside to honor the significant impact small businesses have on the province and Canada as a whole.Small business owners are encouraged to look into Toronto self storage pricing and compare it to their office building rent prices. Storage facilities can house business operations and will save a business loonies while doing so."In Canada, 98 per cent of all businesses are considered 'small,' that is, employing fewer than 100 people," said Gary Goodyear, minister of state for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario at the annual Arnprior and District Breast Cancer Support Group dinner. "Yet the contribution these businesses make to our economy is enormous, accounting for…

The many small business owners in Canada will be pleased to know that Square, the mobile payment system created by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, has launched in Canada.Small business owners should also consider a Toronto self storage facility as an office building, in place of the high price of rent required to run operations out of a traditional space.Square is a device that can be attached to an iPhone, iPad or Android device and has the ability to accept credit card payments, streamlining business operations.“We are focused on making commerce easy for everyone," said Alyssa Cutright, vice president of International for Square. "Square builds free tools for local businesses of all sizes and types to thrive. We’re thrilled to introduce…

According to the study conducted by Michelle McQuaid, a world leader in positive psychology interventions in the workplace, 65 percent of American and Canadian workers are either somewhat or completely dissatisfied at their jobs. With so many Canadians opening their own small businesses, it is important they start today and ask for help.Small business owners on a tight budget should consider trading the expensive cost of office space for the cheap price of self storage, as many business operations can be conducted with smaller space.Canadian entrepreneurs are encouraged to start with a clean slate and keep mistakes in the past where they belong. They should also not be discouraged when they have to ask for help.“Buy your weakness and sell…

With small businesses increasing rapidly throughout Canada, a great way to cut down on employment costs is to hire unpaid interns.Toronto public storage can also be used in place for office space, especially for small business owners looking to get rid of the expensive cost of rent.Many younger individuals, in college or recent graduates, are quick to jump on unpaid internship positions, as they can offer experience that will set them up for a job later on.“Everything that I'm gaining – working with some of the city's top editors, seeing how a weekly magazine operates on a daily basis – is pretty invaluable for someone my age and at my stage in life," Sara Harowitz, an unpaid intern at Toronto…

The Greater Toronto Area's population is one of the fastest growing in North America, as experts warn the suburban neighborhoods are set to disappear.As Toronto's population becomes denser, more people are going to need self storage for their possessions. Cheap Toronto storage is available.“The handwriting is on the wall,” Ken Greenburg, Toronto architect and urban planner told the Toronto Star. “We must make a shift to a more sustainable paradigm, away from low-density sprawl and excessive reliance on the car … we need denser neighbourhoods.”The GTA population is projected to increase more than 44 percent to 9.2 million throughout the next 25 years, accounting for half of Ontario's total population, the Toronto Star reported. Subsequently, the quiet neighborhoods outside Toronto…

Statistics Canada recently reported that consumer prices increased during September on a month-over-month comparison. The increases were only minor and not enough to affect annual inflation.Those looking to reduce spending and free up some space in their homes should consider self storage for their belongings.Consumer prices increased 0.2 percent on a month-over-month comparison. Statistics Canada said that gasoline and electricity were the main contributors to inflation in September, but those decreases were offset by the purchasing of motor vehicles, women’s clothing and mortgages.The report showed that the drought this summer looks to have not impacted food prices, which only showed a year-over-year increase of 1.6 percent in September. Primarily due to the seasonal declines in fresh vegetables and fruit, food…

Home prices in Canada have been increasing for some time. This does not bode well for the many individuals throughout the Toronto area looking for office space. But there are other solutions, although some are questioning the source setting the value on homes throughout the country.Self storage units in Toronto can be used in place of office space, allowing small business owners to save money on the housing market, driving up their up their costs and down their profits.Mortgage insurers, banks and appraisers more recently raised concerns about the margin for error in the database that sets home prices. The system sets values to homes without having an appraiser visit the property.Nonetheless, data from Statistics Canada showed that new home…

Canada is seeing a large number of people starting their own businesses. As more people enter into the entrepreneurial marketplace, they need to be aware of what it is they are committing to and do their homework when it comes to purchases.Those starting their own businesses have low overhead. A storage unit can serve as a place to run business operations, replacing the high cost associated with office space, especially in the expensive Greater Toronto Area.With many Canadians opening franchises, Steve Goldman, a layer and frachise experts, warns that buyers need to know a franchise isn't a sure thing.“It seems like a safer way of doing business, and that’s the big attraction,” Goldman told the Toronto Star. “However there are…

Thieves broke into the Rotterdam Museum the morning of October 10 and walked out with an estimated hundreds of millions of dollars worth of artwork from Picasso, Monet, Gauguin and Matisse.The theft serves as a good reminder to many to place their valuables in storage to protect from being stolen, whether their worth millions or not.“Those thieves got one hell of a haul,” Chris Marinello, director of the Art Loss Register, told the Associated press.The stolen paintings were Pablo Picasso’s 1971 Harlequin Head; Claude Monet’s 1901 Waterloo Bridge, London and Charing Cross Bridge, London; Henri Matisse’s 1919 Reading Girl in White and Yellow; Paul Gauguin’s 1898 Girl in Front of Open Window; Meyer de Haan’s Self-Portrait, around 1890, and Lucian…

A rare Patek Philippe watch sold for $215,000 in an auction on Toronto Sunday, after it was expected to sell for $300,000, the Toronto Star reported.Individuals looking to keep their valuables safe should look into Toronto public storage. With climate controlled environments, housing even the most sensitive valuables offers peace of mind to those in need of storage."I was hoping somebody local would buy it," Kashif Khan, director of Ritchies auction house, told the Toronto Star. "But it went to the U.S. They took our best piece."There were 73 watches sold at the auction and most of them that just told time went for more than their list price. The Patek Philippe charted the moon's phases and indicated when the…

Kicking off Small Business Week, the Toronto Star is offering advice from Greater Toronto Area entrepreneurs who have promising small businesses.For small business owners looking to cut down on costs, a cheap Toronto self storage facility can be just as adequate for running a business as expensive office space, freeing up money to spend elsewhere on the business.Successful small business owners had the following advice:“It might be outside of your comfort zone but, you can achieve it if you think bigger,” Ann Kaplan, president and CEO of iFinance Canada, told the Toronto Star. “My a-ha moment came from self-evaluating. I have certain skill sets but there was a point where I thought, ‘I‘m thinking too small."Jen Agg, owner of The…

According to a recent CIBC report, Canadians age 50 and older have nearly doubled the amount of startup businesses in last 20 years. Statistics Canada showed that during the recession, employment for those in that age range increased by more than 100,000 people.Entrepreneurs in Ontario should look into Toronto self storage for all their small business needs. A storage unit can even be used in place of an office, saving money on the high price for rent. More than half of boomers in their 50s plan on working beyond the retirement age.“Without a doubt, when we’re looking at those demographics, we’re seeing older workers interested in taking advantage of the skills and expertise they built in their careers,” Ben Brunnen, chief…

Entrepreneurs considering expanding or moving their small businesses to other provinces need to conduct extensive research before doing so. A different province has different government programs, credits, incentives and corporate and payroll tax rates.Small business owners in Ontario should consider Toronto public storage for help with any moves or expansions and could even use the storage space as office space, in order to save on the high costs for office buildings."Different provinces have different ways of doing businesses and different marketing approaches that resonate," Shane Lawrence, associate vice president, sales & service, TD Business Banking, told the Toronto Star. "Business owners should factor in the local culture and norms [to] decide whether to customize their sales and marketing approach for…

Toronto Police are investigating a string of jewel thefts that have been occurring throughout the Greater Toronto Area.Individuals should consider locking their possessions in a Toronto self storage if they do not need them, or at least until the thefts die down.Police said the group of thieves targets elderly Italian women. They pull up in a vehicle and a woman between age 35 and 45 exits the vehicle and asks for directions."The suspect then reaches out to the victim and begins to hug them, while doing so removing the necklace and or earrings from the victims and replaces it with a false set of earrings and or necklaces," Colin Greenaway, a Toronto Police Sergeant told the City News.Greenaway added that…